Lalu to forge alliance of secular forces

Patna: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president and ex-Bihar CM Lalu Prasad on Wednesday said that Congress chief Sonia Gandhi had expressed her greetings after his release from jail and pledged to work hard to forge an alliance of secular parties to drive away communal forces.

The RJD chief also said that now since he is out on bail, talks on alliance with secular parties for the next elections would be initiated.

Speculations are rife about a possible tie-up of RJD, Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) and Congress.

The RJP supremo also expressed gratitude to CPI-ML general secretary Deepankar Bhattacharya for speaking against ‘injustice’ meted out to him due to which he had to go to jail in fodder scam case.

"It is rare among politicians to stand for others and criticize injustice selflessly. Deepankar Bhattacharya is a political man and showed uprightness by expressing sympathy for me," he said indicating RJD proximity to CPI-ML which enjoys considerable support particularly in the Central Bihar.

Lalu, who reached home around midnight from Ranchi after release from jail in a fodder scam case, said that though he has been debarred from ‘Sansad’ (Parliament) as per new rules, but he would go to ‘Jan Sansad’ - (People's Parliament) to drive away communal forces.